Original subtitles

[WHOOPS THEN LAUGHS]

I should've known better.

Well, men, it's that time.

How can you tell, Reed?

How can you tell when you get thirsty?

You stay here with Bert till I get back.

Hey.

Where you been? Bert hasn't won a pitch since noon.

I had trouble in the valley.

Well, why didn't you call on me?

I can handle it.

Not the way I can.

Hey, look, I got time for one more game.

Give me your hat.

Come on, come on, your hat.

Oh. Bert, would you...?

Oh, Royal.

[ALL LAUGHING]

Stick around. I won't be long.

I can't. I gotta take a horse over to Anderson's.

Ah.

[INGE CHUCKLES]

Merle.

How's your dad?

Were you waiting for me?

Why didn't you come into the saloon?

Merle, is it your father?

Well, it's my brother.

It's planting time, and we need him.

Well, where is he?

Uh, sleeping off a drunk.

He, uh, had a couple of fights too.

How much is the fine?

Five dollars.

Planting just took everything.

And Pa says this has gotta be a loan.

Shaw's inside the saloon.

We sure are obliged to you.

I'm looking for Shaw.

- Who? - Shaw.

- He went over to the Andersons'. - Thanks.

- Say, this got to do with your brother? - Yeah, yeah.

You know, Shaw didn't have to jail him.

Well, he ain't a very good drinker.

Well, I'll to talk to Shaw when he gets back.

No need. Reed already done it.

[CHUCKLES]

Go on, Lindsay, have another drink.

What's the matter with you now?

Come on, what is it?

Where are you going?

Reed told you to stay here, Lindsay.

Lindsay.

Lindsay, hold up.

He won't be gone long.

LINDSAY: Well, maybe a couple of hours.

I'm tired of waiting around.

Lindsay, it's early.

Besides, you know we might be riding out tonight.

Hey, Shaw ain't at the Andersons'. You sure that's where he went?

INGE: What? - He ain't at Anderson's.

Well, what's where he said he was going.

Come on, let's go.

- Reed's gone too. - Yeah, I know.

Listen, I'd be glad to help.

No. No, I'll wait.

Maybe you don't know who I am.

Yeah. Yeah, I know. You're Reed's brother.

INGE: Lindsay.

[GUN COCKS]

Not a sound.

Better you drink and play cards with me.

Turn around.

You know you're never gonna make it.

Let's go.

[LEAVES RUSTLING]

You really ought to know better.

Not a farmer between here and Stone Canyon

won't be out looking for us.

SHAW: All right.

Now, get up. Get on that horse.

Come on.

[CROWD CHATTERING OUTSIDE]

Come on.

Come on.

MAR: I saw Reed's horse, but Reed wasn't in sight,

so I cut to the gully and saw them heading out.

Mar, did you see him? Was it Shaw?

It was Shaw. I got a good look at him.

He'll head for the prairie. We can cut him off there.

Don't be so sure.

We're gonna need every man who can ride a horse.

Go home and round up every hand. We'll meet at the crossing.

You take everyone here and spread the word across the prairie.

SNOW: I know how you feel,

but we've got to remember that Shaw is in his right.

What's Shaw got to do with it?

If it wasn't for Reed, you wouldn't have no crop.

Who paid for your water pump?

And who gave you the seed after the drought?

INGE: We're wasting time. Shaw's already got an hour's start--

We gotta be organized.

SNOW: I'm the last one to talk down on Reed.

We've still got to consider the marshal. I'm not going.

INGE: What do you mean, you're not going?

What you gotta consider is if it wasn't for Reed,

all your cattle would have been rustled, and we'd all have empty pockets.

INGE: That's right. Now, come on and let's--

Now, we'll meet at the crossing.

Bring everybody you can.

We're gonna sit right here till daylight.

That surprises you, doesn't it?

You got it all figured I was gonna try and race them across the prairie.

That's what they're thinking.

We'll hear them come running by here pretty soon.

What do you gain?

You'll be sitting right in the center of a beehive.

I've got a way out.

Hmm. I can't see it.

You know how the people around here feel about me.

Heh. Royal, you amaze me.

I wouldn't give you 100-to-1.

You're going all the way to Denver.

I'm gonna deliver you personally.

You've been out in the sun too long.

Mm. It's the timing. You understand?

The timing.

Had to be today. You'll see.

You know, Royal, I've always liked you.

I still do. That's what bothers me.

I just never thought you'd be dumb enough to call me.

I know what I'm doing.

I've been planning on it for long enough.

You should have known I had to call you.

I've been assigned to this stump hole for 18 years now.

Last spring, I brought in Mach Williams.

He killed three people with an ax.

Now, if that had happened in Cheyenne or Tombstone,

every newspaper in the country would've made something out of it.

Look at Earp, Masterson.

Half the stories you read about them never happened.

But brining you in, Reed, that's gonna take me out of the bush.

Thanks to you, they'll be reading about me in St. Louis.

If you're successful, they'll be reading about you in New York.

Shaw's coming in, Mr. Favor. Got somebody with him.

FAVOR: Soon as everybody's fed, break camp.

Yes, sir.

- Ah. Sorry I'm late. FAVOR: It's all right.

The herd's not too heavy.

We'd still make it through the canyon before the sun sets.

SHAW: Yeah. I'll be going all the way to Silver Springs with you this time.

Huh.

Yeah. He stole some chickens and a sow.

Taking him back to stand trial.

At least you won't be making the trip all on our account, then.

That canyon's no picnic.

Since the rains, that brush is heavy, can't even see around a turn.

John Day lost half his herd there last month.

They cut him off, stole him blind, never even set eyes on them.

FAVOR: I know it's none of my business,

but that gag, ain't it a little bit much?

SHAW: He got teeth like a chipmunk.

Went through that rope like it was hominy grits.

We're ready.

FAVOR: All right, then move them out, huh?

Yeah.

SHAW: We ain't had breakfast yet.

Gotta feed him three times a day or the court's on my back.

Wishbone's down at the creek.

I'll be working up at the head of the herd.

SHAW: I'll catch up with you.

[MEN SHOUTING AND WHISTLING]

LINDSAY: Harvey.

You take your sons and Ferber's and cross the canyon at the flat.

Wait for us there.

Anderson.

You and Halman wait here.

And the rest of you, follow me.

MERLE: Where are we going?

Listen, I can't explain every move.

Well, after all, we come to help.

Well, then what are we waiting for?

Well, the way I figure it, Shaw'll try to take him across the prairie.

Do I tell you how to plant corm?

Hey! Wait a minute.

- You're giving a lot of orders. - That's right.

How old are you? Twenty, 21?

You're telling grown men what to do?

Don't you worry about my age.

You just worry about being loyal or not loyal.

Some farmers got a blockade up the way at the bend.

What do they want?

ROWDY: They didn't say. Had some kid with them,

said they wanted to talk to you, though, and only you.

LINDSAY: Where's Shaw? - What's the trouble?

Don't stall. I know he takes you through the canyon every year.

- Now, where is he? - I'll go get him.

LINDSAY: You stay where you are.

You're covered on both sides.

Don't try and warn him.

Look, what is the trouble?

Is it the marshal or what?

It ain't gonna help you none to play dumb.

Look, I'm not playing nothing. I've got a herd to move.

And I stand a good chance of losing a great part of them

if I don't get them through this canyon before the sun sets.

Then you should've thought twice, being with Shaw.

I could think a lot better if I knew what this was all about.

Well, you're a working man like myself.

Maybe you don't know.

See, I can’t be sure.

Now, you listen.

Shaw, he's got the law on his side.

But there ain't one of us here

that don't owe something to Reed McCuller.

And Shaw, he knows that.

And he knows that all them things folks are saying about Reed is lies.

Now, I can guess where he's aiming, but he ain't gonna bring Reed in.

Reed McCuller, huh?

Some chicken thief.

Look, you know that whenever we come through this way,

Shaw rides with us through the canyon.

It's made to order for rustlers.

Now, this time, he had a prisoner along with him.

We figured that wasn't none of our business.

That's talk.

Anybody can talk.

Shaw talks real good.

Now, here, what's going on?

MUSHY: Hey, the flour's all been rained on,

and the bacon's turning green.

WISHBONE: Even the beans are jumping.

[MEN SHOUTING AND WHISTLING]

LINDSAY: I didn't see him.

Next time he won't get away.

Now, don't try and help him.

I never did like Shaw. Now I know why.

Come on.

You know who that loony Shaw's got with him?

Reed McCuller.

He had him right there by my wagon.

If I'd have known, I'd have cut him loose.

- I was standing right next to him. - "How's a man gonna eat

with a handkerchief in his mouth?" I ask him.

Well, old Shaw don't even answer.

Just grabs a hunk of beef and shoves McCuller into the bushes.

- He's there still. - Will you shut up?

That's what I'm trying to tell you.

We'd better move. Let's go.

Ah, you heard him. Move them out.

Move them out!

FAVOR: Why didn't you tell us that was Reed McCuller?

Well, I didn't wanna get you involved.

Believe me, if I hadn't been cut off, I'd have taken the prairie.

I had no choice.

You lied to us and you tricked us.

It was my play. I was trying to keep you out of it.

Well, why don't you free him?

Listen, that man's wanted for armed robbery and murder.

That's what you say, but you talk to these people around here,

- they got a different story. - You let him get away with that?

I just run this herd. That's where it stops.

He's been charged, but nothing has been proved.

I've talked to people around here.

They say that he gave money when there was a drought,

kept outlaws from running off their livestock,

even saved their lives.

There was even a theatrical about him in St. Louis. I saw it myself.

Listen, he was spotted in the last raid in the Wells Fargo bank in Denver.

They killed both clerks.

When a train was blown off the tracks in Pueblo,

he and his brother were seen in the mail car.

Nineteen people were killed that day.

And I could name a few more.

Oh, sure, he takes care of the farmers down here.

He's gotta have a place to relax and spend his money.

But believe me, he's a lie.

He's no Robin Hood.

How come you didn't cut across the prairie with him?

I was cut off.

Then the ridge would have been easier.

I know what I'm doing. I've had plenty of time to think about it.

Look, I got nothing to fear.

But I'm telling you, this is one for the books.

I gotta defend myself for bringing him in.

All right, McCuller, they wanna hear you talk.

Go ahead, say anything you want.

You might as well get in practice.

Because when I put you in that courthouse in Denver,

there won't be five men then, there'll be 12.

I don't think either one of us is ever gonna see Denver.

Look, this is a small community.

Just 70 farms, 146 men capable of bearing arms.

They're loyal and they're emotional.

I'm sure they'd rather be back on their farms now.

They're hardworking men, just like you are.

You'll be killing each other.

For what?

So that Shaw can get his name in the paper,

be transferred to a bigger town, be famous.

You'll have to do better than that in Denver, McCuller.

Because they won't wanna hear about me there.

They'll wanna hear about the sheriff he killed in Jackson,

the train you raided in Heatherton.

Forget about Denver. That's six days and five nights away from here.

You're in Table Rock.

You're surrounded by better than a hundred rifles.

Look, I've got nothing against you.

The fact that he's using you isn't your fault.

You take Shaw along with you.

He won't be hurt unless he comes back.

I'll stop my brother and send the farmers home.

This is no affair of ours, Mr. Favor.

We shouldn't take part in it.

Now, look, I've been taking you through this canyon

for three years now.

None of you ever objected then.

Look, I haven't got the right to build a wall of fire around these men.

Oh, I see.

And this spring, my responsibility is Reed McCuller.

Because after all, he didn't shoot you in the back.

Only someone you don't know.

All right, you don't need to spell it all out.

I can see beyond a herd of cattle.

Quit stalling, then.

Where do you stand?

Not where I like.

We're surrounded.

They've got the advantage of us in this canyon.

And to top it all off, you haven't given us much choice.

The thing I still wanna know, though, is why you didn't take the ridge route.

Oh, well, there's another marshal station at the summit.

He might wanna hog in.

Hasn't been a marshal up there in years.

But there is ice and snow.

Now, does that answer your question?

Cut me off. Let them shoot me down.

Can't be any worse than you making me stand trial here.

There's still one more little chance, anyway.

Rowdy, ride into Silver Springs.

Sheriff there, his name is John Blair.

Have him come back with a posse of men.

He'll never get through.

You'll only be tipping your hand and telling them I'm here.

Oh, he doesn't wanna share me with the sheriff.

Wants all the credit himself.

He didn't stop here, but he can't be far away.

MERLE: Why don't we flush him out?

He's got no place to go. We got him surrounded.

Pigs you know about, that's all.

You guys go down below. Wait for me there.

You wait here with me.

You gotta question everything I say? I'm sick of it.

Wait a minute.

I ain't your hired hand.

LINDSAY: Oh, I know what's on your mind.

I've had to live with that long enough.

What do you mean?

I'm asking because I don't know.

You're lying.

You ask because you're not sure of me.

Because you don't know me.

Because I'm the McCuller that always stands in the back.

You don't know my first name.

You got me wrong. I ain't against you, son.

Don't call me son.

And don't talk down to me.

And don't pretend I'm not telling the truth.

Who am I?

Say it.

You're a McCuller.

What else?

You seem to know what you're doing.

[HOOFBEATS APPROACHING]

He was on the lower trail. Had to ride him down.

Said he was going down to Silver Springs for supplies.

Yeah, that's right, it's-- We had to get some more supplies.

We lost them in the last storm. We got wiped out completely.

You plan to get back by night?

No, no, I was gonna meet the herd on the other side.

The lower trail is the long way.

Oh, it is?

Oh, funny, I thought it was the short way.

Take him into the cabin and keep him there.

That should be Bert.

I told him to bring the girl up here.

You don't have to ask. I'll tell you why.

Maybe she set Reed up. How do I know?

I know what you mean.

You go back to the water hole. Tell them I'll be there shortly.

And tell them something else too.

I'm gonna name the time and the place.

Just before the sun goes down over the ridge.

We'll pick up my brother at the exit of the canyon.

Did you find him?

I'll meet you at the water hole.

Reed's not gonna like this, Lindsay.

If he's not dead already.

What do you mean by that?

You can't be sure.

Maybe Shaw figured he couldn't take him alive.

I said I'd meet you at the water hole.

Get down.

Playing it big.

Reed's horse, giving orders.

LINDSAY: Somebody's gotta do it.

And you don't mind.

LINDSAY: No.

Maybe you're working with Shaw.

You got it all figured out, haven't you?

He knew exactly where to go.

- He even knew the time. MAR: So did you.

Reed never talked.

You used to follow us out there.

I saw you hiding in the trees.

Did Reed know?

He knew.

LINDSAY: How come he never called me on it?

It made him laugh.

The loony brother.

MAR: Something like that.

They'll hang him.

If he isn't dead already.

LINDSAY: Mm-hm.

Either way,

he won't be coming back.

That's right.

And when I go down to the ravine at night,

instead of Reed, I'll--

I'll find you there.

Uh-huh.

[SCOFFS]

You are a loony kid.

You got Reed's horse,

but that's all.

INGE: Lindsay!

Keep your hands off her.

Leave her alone.

- Are you all right, Mar? MAR: Yes.

INGE: Now, you get on your horse and go on back up to the cabin.

Wait for me up there.

Lindsay, I know what you're trying to do.

- Well, it's not gonna work. - I told you to go to the water hole.

I did.

I decided to come back.

Now, they're all saying up there that you picked out the time,

you picked out the place.

Well, that's very impressive for them.

You know what I'm saying?

I'm saying if you can do that, you already know where Reed is.

I wanna know right now what we're waiting for.

Well, there's a reason for it.

You'll understand when I explain it to you.

- Come here. - Explain what?

Well, I remembered something Reed told me.

He said that Shaw was afraid of him and that Shaw--

- Where's your horse? - Over there.

[INGE GRUNTS]

Bert should be here by now.

Maybe he went with Lindsay.

Maybe.

You know, I don't believe that story you've been telling.

You could have bought supplies back in Pueblo.

Yeah? Yeah, we could have done that,

but we didn't need them then.

You ran out overnight.

Yeah.

Did they send you in here?

You could have fed off your herd for the next year.

Yeah, I guess we could have,

but flour and coffee are two of the things

we don't like to be without.

Get me some water.

GERBER: I gotta watch him.

Whitey, get her some water.

MAR: I'll share it with you.

They know you were going for help.

I don't blame you.

Reed's exactly what you think he is.

He uses us.

But it doesn't matter to me.

I want him.

Good, bad, name it, I want him.

I love him.

But if someone shoots him in the back,

all I've got left is a monument of stone.

Although they'll build it high enough so everyone in the valley can see it.

But do you think I wanna live with that the rest of my life?

I want him.

At least in Denver he's got a chance.

Well, how come you don't ride for help?

Reed's girl? Who'd believe me? They'd think it was a trap.

Hmm.

I'll get your horse.

- Lee. GERBER: What do you want?

He'll tell us where Reed is if we let him go.

GERBER: Mm-hm.

MAR: Whitey? Hurry, Whitey!

[MEN SHOUTING AND WHISTLING]

I went as far as I could, Mr. Favor, but a couple of farmers spotted me.

I told them I was after strays, but they said to stay on our own trail.

Yeah. All right, take point.

- What's wrong? - Rowdy should've been back by now.

Oh, they're probably holding him. He'll be all right. I know these people.

They gotta be provoked before they'll do anything.

Yeah, like snatching away their hero.

They'd kill me on sight.

You know, I don't guess you even tried to cross the prairie.

I'd guess you just waited for us.

Why not? Does it matter how I bring him in?

I know what you're thinking.

I'm putting a noose around your head.

Well, why shouldn't I?

McCuller doesn't belong to me alone. He belongs to all of you.

Does he have to steal from you before you'll raise a hand?

Oh, we got no difference on that or you wouldn't be here.

I'll tell you what I do object to, though. You could've gotten help from Pueblo.

You could have gotten the sheriff from Colorado Springs.

You could have had an escort out of here.

Yeah, and tip my hand and scare McCuller off?

You could've arranged a meeting.

That's what bothers me.

In spite of what you say, you don't care rot for McCuller.

It's just what McCuller can do for you.

Look, I'm entitled to something.

You think I'm supposed to settle for a small return

of the taxpayers' money?

You think I don't care that everybody's heard of Reed McCuller?

Nobody ever heard of me.

Well, that's your problem,

and you shouldn't have put us in the middle of it.

I wanna talk to him.

SHAW: Don't think you're gonna set him free.

I'd be in my right to kill him.

Now, I wanna know, is there a way out of this canyon?

But before you say anything,

I want you to be advised

that I'm not figuring on turning you loose.

You can bet I'll shoot your head off.

If I can't take you into Denver,

at least they'll know I put that slug where it belonged.

And believe me, if I knew a way out of here,

I'd be the first one to tell you.

The way things stand now, I can only lose.

My little brother's been suffering with a rash for about a year now.

I've watched him scratch all over.

And I'll tell you, it didn't come from eating wild berries.

He itches every time he looks at me.

He came riding down that trail, he was on my horse.

He sat it like it belonged to him.

No, he stops scratching when he gets rid of me.

This is a trick. You can bet on it.

If what you say is true, all he has to do is let Shaw take you in.

No, no, my brother couldn't do that.

See, he'd lose face.

I know what he's gonna do, all right.

A matter of fact, I'd probably do the same thing if I was in his position.

He'll wait for his chance to move in,

and then if Shaw doesn't kill me, Lindsay will.

[MEN SHOUTING AND WHISTLING]

You go down to the water hole, tell everybody to come up here.

MERLE: You know where he is?

I think so.

Well, they'd be wondering why you don't go after him.

We gotta be sure when we move in

that Shaw won't have a chance to put a bullet through him.

You fellows go on down to the ridge.

I'm losing strays every step of the way.

I want you to leave my men alone.

For someone with no footing, you've got a lot of nerve

- making demands. - More than that,

I want you to call these farmers off, send them back home.

Like I thought, you've got Reed.

FAVOR: That's right, I've got Reed.

And if you don't listen to me,

you're gonna have to dust him off the trail.

What do you think these farmers will do to you?

Then we'd all lose a lot, wouldn't we?

You've been warned.

You're putting your brother on the block, you know.

Shaw did.

I can't control him.

No more than I can call off these farmers.

You can save him, though.

LINDSAY: For Denver?

Be better than nothing.

Not for me.

I don't settle for less.

You can always work it out with Reed, not me.

You're not talking to Reed McCuller, you understand?

You look again, see who you're talking to.

If we meet again, you'll know me.

Because I'm the McCuller that doesn't roll over.

[MEN SHOUTING AND WHISTLING]

FAVOR: Well, Reed, seems like you've been prepared for the altar.

Yeah, little brother's gonna perform the sacrifice,

and it looks like we're all gonna be scapegoats.

- Not a chance. FAVOR: Oh, every chance.

Lindsay's got to.

But you ought to understand that.

Seems like you and he's got a lot in common.

We're right in the big fat middle.

Well, no sense making a hash out of it. It's too late now.

They'll be closing in on us most likely down in the valley.

They'll be expecting a fight.

Only we ain't gonna give it to them.

We're all gonna throw down our guns.

They're farmers. They ain't gonna shoot us down in cold blood.

Don't try and sell me out.

The minute you drop your guns, I'll shoot McCuller.

Look, fella, it's the only chance you got.

Now, I'll be with you. We'll be in the center of the herd.

It'll take us through into the valley.

- Maybe we can make a run for it. - Makes sense.

Oh, I don't know about that, but it's the only chance we got.

Keep them here.

The rest of you, spread out.

You come with me.

Hyah!

MAN: Hey!

[GUNFIRE]

[WHINNIES]

Hyah!

[MEN SHOUTING AND WHISTLING]

[WHINNIES]

[GUNSHOT]

Poor blundering fool.

Take the men. Try to round up Lindsay.

I can handle McCuller myself.

Blair's the name. John Blair.

I've been on McCuller's trail for years.

I knew I'd finally get him.

Well, I'll take him into Denver myself.

FAVOR: Oh, his name's Shaw.

Royal K. Shaw Jr.

Thanks.

I'll report it to the marshal's office.

I'm sure they'll wanna know.

Uh, Mushy, why don't you get us a couple of shovels?

Oh, and bring up a wagon.

We'll bury him along the trail.

That way, somebody'll at least see his marker, anyways.

Head them up!

Move them out!